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Mancini calls for overhaul
City boss calls for change domestically to help England progress
Roberto Mancini believes England will never win a major tournament until the Premier League introduces a winter break.
The Manchester City manager's comments to an Italian radio station come just hours after England limped out of Euro 2012 on penalties after a gruelling two-hour game against his countrymen.
England's build-up for the tournament was hampered by the resignation of Fabio Capello in February, leaving current boss Roy Hodgson just weeks to prepare.
But Mancini insists fatigue after a long Premier League season was a bigger factor in their tournament exit than a change at the top.
"Fabio Capello has done a great job with England," he told Rai Radio 2. "And if he were on the bench still Italy would have had to try harder.
"I think the British players pay for the fact of playing continuously for 10 months without a break.
"Then they arrive at the competitions dead tired. They usually attack, not defend as in this European Championship."
Italy's penalty shoot-out win sets up a semi-final against tournament second favourites Germany, while Portugal take on European and world champions Spain in the other with Mancini backing more upsets.
"The final match," he added. "I foresee Italy against Portugal."

Man City after Newcastle and Liverpool defenders to replace Lescott
Manchester City are targeting Newcastle's Fabricio Coloccini and Liverpool’s Daniel Agger as possible replacements for Joleon Lescott.
The Blues are looking to bolster their defensive options this summer, leaving a question mark over the future of the England defender.
With Roberto Mancini keen on the pair, along with Athletic Bilbao defender Javi Martinez, the 29-year-old England stopper could be the odd man out at Eastlands.
Lescott, who had the best season of his career when he helped Manchester City to the Premier League title and starred for England during Euro 2012, has just two-years left on his current deal.
Talks on a possible extension were always planned to take place after this summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine, along with the likes of Gareth Barry and James Milner, but now his future in the North West is uncertain.
Manchester City's spending won't end with a defender though with the champions also keen on Arsenal skipper Robin Van Persie and Napoli striker Edinson Cavani TALKSHIT

Dzeko's move to Bayern Munich in doubt as Germans turn to Euro star Mandzukic
Edin Dzeko's proposed move from Manchester City to Bayern Munich is in doubt after the German giants made a bid for Wolfsburg striker Mario Mandzukic.
With Ivica Olic leaving for Wolfsburg this summer, the Champions League runners-up are looking to add another striker to their ranks to offer Mario Gomez competition for his place.

Dzeko - who enjoyed success in Germany with Wolfsburg from 2007 to 2011 - was Bayern's main target until Mandzukic's three goals for Croatia at Euro 2012 alerted their interest.
Giant Bosnian Dzeko enjoyed a fruitful start to last season, but fell out of favour as City's title challenge stuttered.
He did net the late equaliser against QPR on the final day of the season to lay the platform for Sergio Aguero's title-clinching goal, but the 26-year-old is now deemed surplus to requirements by manager Roberto Mancini as he looks to revamp his squad over the summer.
Mandzukic, rated at £7million, is also wanted by Everton, but he is likely to prefer the option of Champions League football with Bayern. MAIL

Manchester City linked with unlikely Arjen Robben bid
What do they say about ‘swap deals’? They never, ever happen – and in fact, any time you see them featuring in a transfer rumour, it should serve as a huge red flag.
And add a second red flag if that same article appears in the Daily Star.
Even so, the poor man’s version of The Sun are insisting that Manchester City are pursuing Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben, and are willing to trade Edin Dzeko as part of any deal.
The premise here, seems to be that Roberto Mancini fancies his chances without the Bosnian perma-sub, and that nobody at Allianz Arena would be particularly devastated if Robben wasn’t a Bayern player next season. Mash those two together, and you get an extravagant swap deal – it’s not exactly Pulitzer-worthy journalism, but it makes for some interesting fiction.
On a serious note, if Dzeko does leave the Etihad, it really has to be for straight cash – City need to start thinking about balancing their books before Michel Platini’s anti-English spending restrictions come into force. Dzeko may not have had the kind of impact that Mancini would have liked, but he would still command a decent fee on the continent – especially in Germany, where his reputation remains intact.
As for Arjen Robben? Why would anyone bother? He’s the man without a flag, with no country, and who plays for himself at all times. A vastly, vastly overrated winger who City have absolutely no need for – and Mancini’s smart enough to know that.

Barca eye up City young starlet
The problem with signing for a super-rich, super-successful team as a young and up and coming player is that if you don’t quite make it as a professional player there that you are open to some kind of ridicule. Just ask one-time next big thing Michael Johnson.
On a similar subject of young players who may not make it at a big club we come across another young midfielder at the Manchester City who hasn’t quite lived up to his potential and will soon leave. According to the Daily Mirror anyway.
The player in question who, if the picture used in the article is anything to go by, only exists in the world of FIFA 12 and goes by the name of Joan Angel Roman. Seriously, look at the picture; he looks as if he is made from 100% pixels.
Anyway, aside from the existential question over whether Roman exists or not, we come to the question of where he will be plying his possible trade next season.
Roman is the subject of an inquiry by Barcelona according to the Mirror with the fee dependant on how many appearances the 19-year-old will make for the Catalan club.
Roman joined City three years ago at the tender age of 16 but has yet to make a debut for the club which means, in the modern world of football, that he is past it and needs to be moved on with haste to another club. Only perhaps the most successful club of the contemporary era but there we go.
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43352

Joe Hart beaten by Andrea Pirlo usual 'Panenka penalty' despite research
England goalkeeper Joe Hart was beaten by a 'Panenka' chipped penalty Andrea Pirlo has performed numerous times and even missed, despite apparently watching Italy players' penalties from the past decade.

England crashed out of Euro 2012 after losing 4-2 on penalties, following a 0-0 draw, to the Italians and Pirlo's cool spot-kick helped to put the former world champions on their way to victory.
But Hart should have probably known the Juventus midfielder was going to chip him, if as is claimed, he researched ten years of Italian penalties and watched videos on an iPad before.
In 2003 Pirlo's own international team-mate Gianluigi Buffon was on the receiving end of the cheeky spot-kick.
The Juventus stopper could do nothing as the playmaker, then at AC Milan, lifted the ball over him.
But the conversion, made famous by Czechoslovakian player Antonin Panenka in the 1976 European Championship final against Germany, has not always proved successful for Pirlo.
The creative midfielder missed a 'Panenka' in a friendly match against Barcelona and had to suffer the humiliation of the goalkeeper just standing still and easily catching the penalty.
With all this information on Pirlo, and the fact Mario Balotelli is his club team-mate, you would have thought the Manchester City goalkeeper would be in a good position to save a few of the spot kicks. METRO

SNUB BOLLOX: 181

[spoiler]Samir Nasri's belle femme Tatiana Golovin
As you can see in the pictures, Samir Nasri's other half Tatiana Golovin has a gorgeous figure, probably down to her past life as a professional tennis player
[/spoiler]

OTHER BOLLOX
Chelsea have turned their attention to Bayer Leverkusen winger Andre Schurrle, 21, after Wigan broke off talks over selling Victor Moses. The Metro

Italian club Lazio are closing in on the signing of West Ham and Tottenham target Burak Yilmaz, 26, according to reports in Italy. talkSHIT

Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles, 29, is an £8m target for Serie A side Napoli. Daily Mirror

Fiorentina are unlikely to sell Liverpool and Aston Villa target Juan Manuel Vargas, 28, this summer after both clubs failed to reach the Italian team's £12m asking price. talkSHIT

Craig Bellamy believes Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool could be a "match made in heaven" - but Cardiff City could tempt the 32-year-old away from the new regime at Anfield. Liverpool Daily Echo

Former Southampton and England star Matt Le Tissier believes England's fitness was a major issue during the Three Lions' Euro 2012 quarter-final loss to Italy. talkSHIT

England are planning a mini-tour of Brazil next summer, with friendlies against the 2014 World Cup hosts and neighbours Uruguay. Daily Mirror

Harry Redknapp says Engand will continue their run of tournament failures until their players learn to hang on to the ball. Daily Mirror

Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil, 23, has stated that Spain are the favourites to win Euro 2012. Goal.com

QPR wanted to fine Joey Barton three months' wages - £840,000 - over his meltdown at Manchester City last month. Daily Mirror

Swansea City are hopeful Scott Sinclair, 23, will sign a new contract following the appointment of Michael Laudrup as the club's new manager. South Wales Evening Post

More bollox later ....

On the penalties, an old coach of ours when I played (many years ago) used to say to our keeper that if you stand still until the kick is taken, in a shoot-out at least 1 and often 2 of the 5 kicks will come straight down yer throat.

I cant recall seeing a shoot-out anywhere when this hasnt been the case, hence I'd always advise a keeper to stand still and let the takers make a mistake - some will miss altogther like Young and others will knock one straight at you.

Goaters 103 wrote:On the penalties, an old coach of ours when I played (many years ago) used to say to our keeper that if you stand still until the kick is taken, in a shoot-out at least 1 and often 2 of the 5 kicks will come straight down yer throat.

I cant recall seeing a shoot-out anywhere when this hasnt been the case, hence I'd always advise a keeper to stand still and let the takers make a mistake - some will miss altogther like Young and others will knock one straight at you.

If it was facing England, you could go for a pint.


Strange how, since Lescott proved himself to be as good as anyone at CB for England, the press have all started running stories about us getting rid of him.

Arjen Robben story had better be Bollox, cunt of the highest order !!!!!!!

And the Wag looks like a Shemale!!!!!!